The Norwegian phenomenon goes beyond the problems: this year he has never competed outdoors. Yes to the 5000, he will decide at the last whether to do the 1500
He is one of Tokyo 2025’s greatest puzzles: how is Jakob Ingebriggen? Even him, always so sure of himself, at the limits of arrogance, advances doubts. The Norwegian, two Olympic titles and as many worlds between 1500 and 5000, outdoors this year did not compete. The double brace 1500-3000 indoor of March, between Europeans and World Cup, has cost him a serious inflammation of the Achilles tendons and since then he has spent more time to take care than to run.
Jakob, what are the latest news?
“If I am here, it is because I intend to be of the game. And when I present myself to the starting line it is because I want to win. It has always been so. But the truth is that they have been back for miserable months and mine continues to be a run -up against time. I will decide at the last moment whether to participate in the 1500 battery (scheduled in the Italian night, ed.)”.
“The indoor season has been very positive: but I was able to train to train, I understood that something was wrong. The tendons, as already last year, began to be felt. And run it has become practically impossible. Since then I live in the day, even if the situation, in the last three weeks, has improved”.
In general, how does it react to injuries?
“By my nature, I always push to the maximum. I like to explore my limits. If I can’t do it, the world collapses on me, I think it is so for many. But I have a staff who supports me in everything. My brothers, Henrik and Filip also includes it, with whom I train, and my wife Elisabeth, who 15 months ago gave me a beautiful child”.
Can it be patient in stop periods?
“I impose it, it is fundamental. You don’t have to be in a hurry, things get worse. This time I remained eight weeks without running a single meter and I prepared with valid alternatives. A good team, also composed of doctors and physiotherapists, helps you to be realistic and have an adequate medium-long term plan to go on”.
Filippa was born 15 months ago: having become a father is an exciting experience, he let me out of the sport of sport in which I was confined
Did you change her father?
“Seeing Filippa growing is an exciting experience. I am learning a lot. He shows me things in perspective. She and my wife have allowed me to get out of a bubble, that of sport, in which I had been confined for years. Now I have a different approach to life and also deal with the difficulties as an athlete in a different way”.
Thinking about the past, just in Tokyo, at the 2021 games, winning the 1500s has definitively consecrated: what memories do you have that great success?
“Excellent: reviewing the images of that race conveys so much positive energy. I wanted to return, to discover the city that then, because of Covid, we could not appreciate in any way”.
Tendini permitting, he will double 1500 and 5000: who will be the opponents to beat?
“More or less the same as the last five to six seasons, but never as this time I have to think exclusively of myself”.
Has he managed to do some specific jobs?
“Few and only in the most recent weeks. I count on my experience”.
Despite everything, in recent months, did he do as always a base to Sierra Nevada and St. Moritz?
“We choose the Spanish destination because in the world there are few centers so well equipped for gatherings at such a high altitude. In addition, without problems of time zone to be disposed of, it is easily accessible with a direct flight on Malaga. Now that I move with the family in tow is a detail for me not at all negligible”.
With the tendons it goes better, doctors and physiotherapists help me to be realistic
When instead, in spring and summer, it is in St. Moritz, it often crosses the Italian border to train in Chiavenna: why?
“In the Swiss locality there are ideal conditions, starting from the meteorological ones. But to carry out certain work of repeated, in order not to have to extend the recovery times, it is better to get off the hill. Thus, for 12-13 years, the excellent track of Chiavenna, which depending on the traffic can be reached in 30-60 minutes, has become a pleasant fixed destination”.
What would a young man who begins to make the middlefondo and has a reference in you?
“At the beginning he must develop strength and resistance skills. He must build by storing many kilometers, at more and more sustained rhythms. At the speed and changes of pace we will think of a second phase. And then he must do many exercises to prevent accidents”.
With characters like her and Karsten Warholm, how much did athletics grow in Norway?
“In the last six or seven years a lot. Before, it was for a few, now many people run. From young people to the elderly. And at all levels. After all, just a pair of shoes and you can do it everywhere. And if there is a certain constancy, progress also arrive. First it was all linked to football, cross -country skiing and winter disciplines, now there are funds and subsidies too. The spirit of emulation helps”.
And how do you see the discipline in general?
“Evolution is evident and it is good. But what I continue to love our sport more is that opinions matter little or nothing. There are times and measures. They are worth those”.
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